LM Nov-Dec 2025

Education Elevat g

Julie Wollerman ROE #3

Dr. Nick Sutton Addison SD #4

Who: Julie Wollerman, Regional Superintendent What: Oversaw the expansion of alternative education program; Expanded the attendance prevention/ intervention program to help districts address student attendance; Expanded alternative education services; Added instructional coaches to improve professional development;

Who: Dr. Nick Sutton, Superintendent What: Successfully transitioned district to majority dual-language enrollment, now serving more students in dual language courses than traditional classrooms; Implemented aligned curriculum across all seven district schools; Established peer-to-peer learning culture among teachers; Developed six-point categorical

framework for student engagement; Co-created QuickCharge AI 15 virtual meeting series with IASA and Learning Technology Center. Where: Addison School District #4, DuPage Region When: Superintendent of Addison School District #4 for four years; Previously served as superintendent at Sandridge SD #172 and Stark County CUSD #100 Why: As an educator who has taught in both rural and suburban settings, navigated transformational changes in technology, and now leads a district experiencing significant demographic change, Dr. Nick Sutton has embraced the importance of being adaptable. “I’ve always been passionate about responding to the needs in front of us,” Dr. Sutton said. “There are educators who have been reluctant to embrace changes—the internet, devices, and now AI. But these changes are happening whether we’re ready or not, and we need to embrace them. Our students deserve it.” At Addison School District #4, a preK-8 district with nearly 3,400 students in DuPage County, Dr. Sutton has navigated a significant shift in student demographics. Addison has experienced an influx of ESL students to the point where the district now enrolls more students in dual language

Hired a multilingual specialist to help districts better support ESL students and families. Where: ROE #3, Kaskaskia Region When: Regional Superintendent of ROE #3 since 2011 Why: In Illinois, regional superintendent is an elected position. While that may be true, Julie Wollerman has never considered herself a politician. “I am an educator,” Wollerman said. “I base my decisions on what is best for kids.” Wollerman has spent her entire career at ROE #3, which serves Bond, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, and Montgomery counties. She began as an attendance advocate, became a teacher for the ROE’s first alternative high school before becoming the principal. As principal, she helped grow the alternative high school to the point where it needed an additional site. That experience led to her promotion to assistant regional superintendent, a position she held until 2011 when she was elected to the top role. As regional superintendent, Wollerman has adopted the approach that the ROE should be a partner to school districts and not a compliance officer. “We want our districts to achieve success, so we work together

16 LM Nov–Dec 2025